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| Saturday, November 07, 2009 |
| Job Hunting. A Joy. |
Rising early, filling out applications, completing the resume, drinking coffee. Sounds pretty bleak. Also, it isn't really a proper sentence, nor is it a proper opening to a paragraph. But, since when have I ever cared what the rules were. Does anyone even really know what the rules are these days, anyway? I haven't seen nor read proper grammar or punctuation since the birth of text messaging.
Back on point. An arduous ride to the mall, where I am filled in with news of woe. I wondered for a few months at the prospect of changing the boundaries of an already flimsy relationship to one where power is ultimately transferred. So I was glad to hear I was not the chosen one. A friend was renting her home, and chose a different tenant, who was willing to pay more. I was truly happy for her, as it will absolutely relieve some burden she has been shouldering.
I missed the Friday movie date with my friends. Something we only just recently began to do. This time they were going to watch a flick that my boyfriend and I planned to see together. I decided not to go, because I promised him I wouldn't see it without him present. This had happened, regretfully, once before. Unfortunately, it was a movie based on a book that I really loved. Now the mere mention of the title leaves a rustic bitter taste in my mouth.
I went, instead to the Mall to turn in applications. I was thinking at my age, with my professional-ish back ground, I could land a job in any one of those little shops. I wandered in to one that features and focuses on women's clothing and accessories. I was excited and nervous. I had never worked in retail, and really thought I might find that it was something I would enjoy. The girl fidgeting with a sweater, trying to fold it in that boxy, organized, mall fashion.. lit up like a Christmas tree and welcomed me like I was the long lost sister she never had. Until I told her I was there to apply for work.
Then it was absolutely on. First, they were out of applications. This line was delivered in a sickly sweet dagger to the throat voice that sent chills up my spine. I just smiled, saying I already had an application, and resume, and could I speak to the manager of the store if she is in, please? She all but threw the sweater on the counter as she went into 'the back'. I thought I was going insane. Why on earth would this very seemingly nice normal person behave in such a way to a prospective peer?
Because. I was competition. I had just barely handed my application and resume to the manager, when she sized me up and said she absolutely would love to welcome me to her team. BUT. But, they would only pay minimum wage, hours were only guaranteed by my own will to compete with my co-associates, and it was temporary. Very Temporary. I think perhaps this was her way of intimidating young, floundering applicants that thought, way cool a job at the mall. Then I realized.
This job is so not for me. I need to feed myself and three kids. I could absolutely apply. I could absolutely compete. But I need guarantees. So I gingerly took the application back. Smiled at the vicious, seething, sweater folding lioness, and held my head high as I exited the building.
My head was so full of what to do at that point, I wandered to the transfer station and decided to wait for the bus. I really wasn't sure where I thought I might be going. I knew I wanted to head back north, maybe turn in my resume at some different spa's maybe a chiropractor's office.. I really didn't know. I sat on the concrete slab that resembled a bench and plugged my headphones into my head. There were people there, of coarse, waiting as well.
For some reason, the bus intimidates the hell out of me. I think maybe because when I went from Kindergarten to first grade, I thought I would be riding the early bus home with my siblings, so I ran and boarded it during last recess thinking everyone else was wrong. I didn't really know I had boarded the wrong bus, and couldn't figure out why no one was recognizable.. and big. The bus began pulling out by the time my six year old instinct told me I was on the wrong bus. I was too scared to say anything, because I thought the driver would yell at me. So I sat frozen. My teacher had come out before we could pull out on the highway. Apparently someone had radio'd all of the buses and described me. I was humiliated.
So, when the very first bus pulled up, all I noted was the number on the side. I didn't pay attention to the direction it was running. I had been palming my money with a sweaty hand for nearly fifteen minutes awaiting its arrival. When I stepped into the aisle, something hit my gut like a rotting tomato. I just knew, just knew for some reason, I had boarded the wrong bus. So I sat down. I looked around. Nothing on the inside tells you where you are going. I was alone, and didn't really want to bother the driver. So, I just sat as he pulled out, then began to panic when he turned the wrong direction. Hands shaking, face red as a beet, I pulled the 'rip' cord as soon as I realized. It was maybe a half a block from the mall.
Embarrassment surged, so I chose to walk it off. I called my father and spoke to him. He advised me to write a selling statement at the top of my resume, like an advertisement. He explained that this was a good way to draw interest for the reader, because the reader no doubt, is presented with hundreds of resumes for any given job. I told him about my bus debacle. He laughed. He said he was sure he didn't know anyone in this world that had more fun than me. This lifted my spirits considerably.
I crossed the street then crossed again. My boyfriend called to offer words of encouragement. I text him that I had got on the wrong bus. His bolstering, his understanding, gave me courage to try again. He cautioned me to catch the bus on the east side of the road. He said he loved me, that he didn't think me an idiot for catching the wrong transit.
Feeling loads better, and finally on the right bus, I formulate a plan. I will go to the school and visit with the ladies in career services about job opportunities. Along the way, I ran into my recruiter, who hugged me and told me I looked beautiful. Then I went in and picked up the job listings I had come for. The girls made such a fuss over me, my ego was boosted, and I felt ready to conquer the world. I love visiting my school.
I decide to just take the listings and map out a plan. To write proper cover letters, resumes geared to the job I am seeking, and hit the ground running Monday. I board the bus adding mapping out a bus route to the list.
Job hunting. A joy. |
posted by katmandusuekookachoo @ 7:43 PM  |
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